Saturday September 29th, 2001
Murray Matters
It seems a matter of national concern in Britain that Formula One legend Murray Walker is reaching the end of his microphone life, and all the country's motor racing fans are desperately wracking their brains for a man who can justifiably replace him. It is a difficult task. Walker, who retires at this weekend's United States Grand Prix, has been commentating on Grand Prix racing for more than 50 years. His voice is synonymous with Formula One and such is his celebrity status that a leading motoring publication in Britain called for the new banked corner planned at Silverstone to be named in his honour.
ITV has been lining up pitlane reporter James Allen as the most likely replacement, but it seems his efforts behind the mike this season have failed to spark the British public. Instead Formula One driver turned television presenter Tiff Needell was the fans' favourite for the job with 35 per cent of the votes in a poll by Green Flag rescue service. Exuberant Jeremy Clarkson, also of the BBC, was second with 14 per cent of the votes, while Allen came in with a disenchanting 9 per cent.
Belly First
It appears Formula One new boy Tomas Enge dived belly first into his United States Grand Prix debut when he headed to Indianapolis thinking only of his stomach. With a comical but perhaps somewhat naïve take on American life, entertaining Enge's only comment to the official press service on his views of the American circuit was: "The first problem I see here is that I couldn't find a McDonald's around the track." Perhaps chasing for a burger he could not find will have shed some all-important pounds to make his Prost car go around Indy a little bit faster.
Injury Update
Formula One star Luciano Burti is making a miraculous recovery from the devastating Belgian Grand Prix crash which sidelined him for the rest of this season. Burti had incredibly escaped with just severe bruising after he crashed his Prost head on into a tyre barrier following a collision with Jaguar's Eddie Irvine almost a month ago, and he was up and about last weekend when he visited Northamptonshire for the ChampCar race at Rockingham Motor Speedway. He was seen chatting with Brazilian friends in the series, and although he said his recovery was going well he refused to say whether he would return to Formula One in the future.
Ramirez Party
Departing McLaren man Jo Ramirez, who was presented with a Harley Davidson motorbike by Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard for his 60th birthday at the German Grand Prix, had more cause for a celebration at Indianapolis this weekend. To commemorate what will be his final race in Formula One, the team put on a dinner at a museum near to the Indianapolis circuit and the popularity of a man who has spent almost all of his life in Formula One was clear as between 200 and 250 people attended to celebration.
Published at 17:15:46 GMT
(03-11-2005): 
